Process for the manufacture of a sugar product



Dec. 10, 1929. W, H1. mmlmfgmm 1,''.';W,O(:`vlfl PROCESS FOR THE MANUFAGTURE 0F A SUGAR PRODUCT Filed Deo. 29. 1.922

INVENTOR ATTORNEY tained moisture, a commercial product is obtainable if the dry products in suspension and .at the moment of completion of the drying be subjected to a cooling action prior to collecting the product. This will serve t0 chill the dried particles below their critical temperature to a non-melting point; and fresh sugar juice may thus be directly treated to obtain same in the form of a dry powdered product which will contain, moreover, all of the original and vital elements in an unaltered condition provided the fruit uice is promptly treated. y

In some instances, it may be desirable to heat the sugar juice before being atomized or sprayed; but usually it is preferable, in order to prevent any changes due to temperature action in mass, to atomize or spray the same cold. The atomization may be effected by an air atomizer spray; but it is preferable to employ spraying by high pressure spray heads. In the latter case,-the pressures may range from 100 lbs. per square inch up to 2,000 or 3,000 lbs., depending upon the spray h eat orifice and the size of the particle des1re I have found inpractice that initial temperatures over 212 F. are desirable and may even exceed 1,000 F. It is preferable, however, to use the higher range of temperatures as this enables a much `lower poundage of air to be employed. While the maximum initial temperature of the gas that may be used is relatively unimportant, yet, if it b'e desirable to obtain ,the natural solids of the sugar juicey in a non-altered state, it is necessary that the temperature at the completion of the evaporation of the moisture should not be much over 200-210 F. It is vital, however, that immediately upon completion of the evaporation of the moisture from the spray dried particle, it should be chilled promptly to a much lower temperature. Temperatures below 150 F. and preferably around 125 F. have been found suitable.

When these conditions are observed, a dry powdered, non-crystalline finished product can be produced from a suitably ltered fresh sugar juice directly and without any intermediate treatment ;and this dry powder product will contain all of the vital elements of the valuable food constituents in a completely unaltered condition and in the same condition as present in the original juice of the sugar producing plant.

' The novel process may be carried out, for example, in a vertically disposed drying chamber provided by the cylindrical casing 1 which is shown in the drawing, said casing being of appropriate dimensions and into the top of which the material to be dried, and which is in a more or less liquid condition, is sprayed through a spray nozzle 2 of any well-known or special type. Simultaneously therewith, heated gas of the proper degree of temperature is introduced through the top of the casing about the spray nozzle 2, being supplied through a duct 3 and distributing' compartment 4. rlhe material thus sprayed becomes quickly dried into small particles which in their travel through the drying chamber are arranged to pass through a cooling zon'e or zones to chill the same to the desired final temperature, hpreliminary to withdrawal from said casing. These zones may conveniently be provided through the medium of one or more sets of annular openings 5 and 6 respecitvely disposed in the wall of the casing 1 at its lower portion `and through which a gaseous cooling medium may be directed from suitable supply ducts 7 and 8, respectively.

I claim:

1. The method of producing sugar in dry non-crystalline form from the sugar juices ordinarily processed to obtain commercial sucrose which consists in its entirety of filtering raw sugar juice to remove mechanical impurities and objectionable coloring matter, spraying the said filtered juice in finely divided condition into a hot normally gaseous drying,medium to remove a substantial portion of the moisture content in said `uice, and when the material is dry and while still in suspension in the drying gas, reducing the temperature of the material and the drying gas to thereby directly produce the finished sugar product in dry finely divided orm.

2. The hereindescribed process for producing a food product, from the sugar juices ordinarily processed to obtain commerclal sucrose which consists in spraying raw sugar juice into a heated gaseous drying medium at an initial temperature exceeding 212 F., and then cooling the dried product at the moment of completion of the drying action and while the product is still in suspension to a temperature below 150o F.

3. A process for the manufacture of a dry finely divided sugar from the raw sugar juices ordinarily processed to obtain commercial sucrose which comprises filtering the raw juice and then converting the said filtered juice into the ultimate dry sugar product in a continuous operation which comprises spraying the said sugar juice in finely divided condition into a current of heated drying gas, permitting the said sprayed material to be carried in suspension in the said gas while bein dried, reducing the temperature of the dried sugar product and the spent drying gas j to a temperature below the critical tem era- 'lll titl

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ing it in iinely divided condition into a current of heated drying gas to thereby rapidly evaporate the vvater content oi tbe said juice? tbe sprayed sugar juice and tbe resulting dehydrated product being carried in suspenw sion in the said current ot drying gas, introducing into tbe current ot drying gas and dried product suspended therein a quantity ot a substantially cooler gas to intermix with and reduce the temperature ot tbe said current of drying gas and dried product, and collect ing tbe dried product.,

5. rlllie process of convertinV into the `form oit a substantially drypovv er sugar co-l pound oit non-crystalline particles a sugar juice prepared trom tlie raw sugar juices ordinarily processed to obtain commercial sucrose Without evaporation ot said juices to dryness, which comprises in its entirety projecting tlie said sugar juice in iinely divided condition into a heated normally gaseous treating medium to thereby evapcrate a substantial portion ot tbe moisture from said juice and reduce the normally solid constituents thereof to tbe term ot small substantially dry non-crystalline particles in suspension in said gas, reducing tlie temperature of tlie suspended particles to a temperature below 'tbe critical temperature ot the sugar and then separating and collecting tlie said 'particles trom tbetreating gas as tlio tinislied dry powder sugar product t. 'lllie metliod oit producing in dry povvder form material composed oi constituents of lovv melting point vvliicli comm prises subjecting a finely divided liquid spray oit said materai to the action oi a liet gaseous medium and vvben desiccated and vvliile still in suspension in said medium introducing an-. other gaseous medium vvbose temperature is belovv that of tbe lovv melting oint con-a stituents in such quantity as to e 'ect solidincation of the said lovv melting point constituents, then separating tlie dried solidined product from the drying medium.

Signed at New Yorlrin tbe county ot Nevv York and State ot New York tbis 28th day oit December A. D.'l922. I

WALTER llHl., DlGKERSN 

